Sergiu Celac
Encyclopedia
Sergiu Celac (ˈserd͡ʒju t͡ʃelak; born May 26, 1939) was the first post-communist
Romania
n Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania (December 26, 1989 - June 28, 1990) within the Romanian Provisional Government in the aftermath of the Romanian Revolution of 1989
.
, Romania
. In 1961, he graduated from the School of Languages of University of Bucharest
.
and in 1972 he was promoted to a rank of Counselor. From 1962 until 1967, he worked as the personal secretary to the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1967-1969, he was a part time secretary to the Foreign Minister on his trips overseas and during Romania's presidency of the UN General Assembly. In 1968-1974, Celac served as Deputy Director and later Director of the Intelligence Analysis and Policy Planning Department. From 1961 through 1978, he also served as an interpreter for Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
and Nicolae Ceauşescu
. Throughout his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was an expert and member of the Romanian delegation to 14 sessions of the UN General Assembly and Disarmament Committee in Geneva
. In 1978, Celac was dismissed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an ideologically unreliable employee. After removal from foreign service, he worked at the Encyclopedic Publishing House in Bucharest until the overthrow of the Ceauşescu regime on December 22, 1989.
On December 26, 1989, being one of close allies of new President Ion Iliescu
, Celac was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania within the Provisional Government of Romania in the aftermath of the anti-communist revolution and served in this position until June 28, 1990. Celac refused to run for Romanian Parliament or join any political party. In 1990-1996, he worked as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom
and Ireland
(from 1991). In 1996, he was appointed Ambassador at large leading special envoy missions to the Balkans, Central Asia
, Caucasus
and the Middle East
. From April through August 1998, he was the Director of Political Affairs of the ministry. In August 2000, Celac resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue academic and business interests and work as political analyst and environmental consultant.
( IRSI). From March 2002 until December 2004, Celac served as Personal Adviser to the President of Romania
. He was also the Alternate Director General at the International Center for Black Sea Studies in Athens
in 2003-2007.
In 1997 - 2002, he was an invited speaker at many conferences in United States
, France
, Belgium
, United Kingdom
, Germany
, Italy
, Luxembourg
, Poland
, Ukraine
, Jordan
, Israel
, Turkey
, Czech Republic
, Greece
, Slovakia
, Switzerland
, Georgia
, Azerbaijan
, Portugal
, Austria
, The Netherlands, Brazil
. His publications include more than 40 fiction and non-fiction political science books, and more than 500 essays and articles. He also co-chairs the Millennium III Quarterly Learned Journal.
Currently Celac is the Senior Adviser at National Center for Sustainable Development, Vice President of Romanian Association for the Club of Rome and Associate Professor at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute.
Celac is married to Silvia Celac with no children.
Post-Communism
Post-communism is a name sometimes given to the period of political and economic transformation or "transition" in former Communist states located in parts of Europe and Asia, in which new governments aimed to create free market-oriented capitalist economies with some form of parliamentary...
Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania (December 26, 1989 - June 28, 1990) within the Romanian Provisional Government in the aftermath of the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
.
Early life
Celac was born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. In 1961, he graduated from the School of Languages of University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
.
Diplomatic career
Celac started working as a junior clerk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania immediately after graduation from the university. By 1963 he received the rank of AttachéAttaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
and in 1972 he was promoted to a rank of Counselor. From 1962 until 1967, he worked as the personal secretary to the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1967-1969, he was a part time secretary to the Foreign Minister on his trips overseas and during Romania's presidency of the UN General Assembly. In 1968-1974, Celac served as Deputy Director and later Director of the Intelligence Analysis and Policy Planning Department. From 1961 through 1978, he also served as an interpreter for Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej was the Communist leader of Romania from 1948 until his death in 1965.-Early life:Gheorghe was the son of a poor worker, Tănase Gheorghiu, and his wife Ana. Gheorghiu-Dej joined the Communist Party of Romania in 1930...
and Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
. Throughout his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was an expert and member of the Romanian delegation to 14 sessions of the UN General Assembly and Disarmament Committee in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. In 1978, Celac was dismissed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an ideologically unreliable employee. After removal from foreign service, he worked at the Encyclopedic Publishing House in Bucharest until the overthrow of the Ceauşescu regime on December 22, 1989.
On December 26, 1989, being one of close allies of new President Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
, Celac was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania within the Provisional Government of Romania in the aftermath of the anti-communist revolution and served in this position until June 28, 1990. Celac refused to run for Romanian Parliament or join any political party. In 1990-1996, he worked as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
(from 1991). In 1996, he was appointed Ambassador at large leading special envoy missions to the Balkans, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. From April through August 1998, he was the Director of Political Affairs of the ministry. In August 2000, Celac resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue academic and business interests and work as political analyst and environmental consultant.
Post-diplomatic career
Since August 2000, Celac is the chairman of EmC Emission Control Ltd. In January 2002, he was hired to be the President & CEO of the Romanian Institute of International Studies of Nicolae TitulescuNicolae Titulescu
Nicolae Titulescu was a well-known Romanian diplomat, at various times government minister, finance and foreign minister, and for two terms President of the General Assembly of the League of Nations . He was a member of the Freemasonry.-Early years:...
( IRSI). From March 2002 until December 2004, Celac served as Personal Adviser to the President of Romania
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
. He was also the Alternate Director General at the International Center for Black Sea Studies in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 2003-2007.
In 1997 - 2002, he was an invited speaker at many conferences in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, The Netherlands, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. His publications include more than 40 fiction and non-fiction political science books, and more than 500 essays and articles. He also co-chairs the Millennium III Quarterly Learned Journal.
Currently Celac is the Senior Adviser at National Center for Sustainable Development, Vice President of Romanian Association for the Club of Rome and Associate Professor at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute.
Awards
Celac is the Grand Officer of the National Order for Faithful Service (Romania, 2000).Celac is married to Silvia Celac with no children.